After his 1979 graduation from Camden Catholic High School, John Grazioli took a job with a manufacturing company. The Pennsauken native installed windows and doors on the side to make extra money.

“I didn’t go to college, but I got a degree from the school of hard knocks,” the amiable father of three said recently as he sat at the kitchen table of his Evesham home.

“In 1988, I broke out on my own and started doing all kinds of remodeling work — kitchens, baths, basements.”

Grazco Home Improvements has enjoyed a steady and successful business over the last quarter century, and Grazioli said he hopes to put in another 25 years. His son, also named John, joined the business three years ago, and the pair work side by side on every project.

The elder Grazioli said they handle about 50 to 60 jobs a year, and while he wouldn’t reveal annual revenue figures, he noted Grazco is doing well.

“We got through the recession, and there were a lot of companies like ours that didn’t,” said “Old John,” as “Young John” joined him for an interview.

Question:(to Old John) What was it like in the early days, as you started your own business?

Answer: All I had was a pickup truck and my tools. But in 1990, I bought this big-box truck and I put all my tools and a rolling workshop in it. Everybody laughed at this big white elephant in my driveway.

I had three little kids when I first started out, and it was tough at times. We’ve had our ups and downs over the years, but I wouldn’t do it any other way.

Q: (to Young John) Did you always want to join the business and work with your father?

A: No, not really. I liked working with him when I was younger because I could make some great money during the summers. But after getting a degree in accounting (from the Rutgers School of Business) I thought I would work in the corporate world. I got a job with Enterprise (car rentals), and I took their management training course.

Turns out they wanted me to be the guy behind the counter who handed out the keys. That was not what I got a degree for. My dad always wanted me to work with him, so I eventually thought it would be a good idea. We work out in the field all day, and then at night, I’ll handle the accounting, the proposals and the contracts.

Q:What’s it like working together?

A: (Young John) It’s cool. We work together well. He takes suggestions very well, and I get to have a say on a lot of things that are going on. And I’m not going to get fired, right? (laughs)

(Old John) I’ve always showed him the basics and then he takes off from there. He might have a better way of doing things, and I’ll tell him to go for it. It’s always nice to have a younger point of view.

(Young John) He’s great on the basics, and I really get into the detail stuff. Where he stops, I pick up, and if I don’t know something, he does. It works well.

(Old John) It also feels real good to be able to teach him so he doesn’t make the mistakes I did while I learned the ropes.

Q:Where does most of your business come from?

A: (Old John) I’d say about 85 percent is from referrals. I’ve always strived to build a solid reputation and give the customer 110 percent. So now we’re getting business from the sons and daughters of clients I had 20 years ago.

(Young John) This is such an established business, we really don’t need to do much advertising. We have our website and we’re on Facebook. We continuously update them and we add testimonials from customers. People don’t go to the phone book anymore; they go right to the Internet to research a company.

Q:How many employees does Grazco have?

A: (Old John) You’re looking at the labor force. It’s me and my son. But we do have a licensed electrician, a licensed plumber and a mason who will work with us.

(Young John) And on bigger jobs we might subcontract a Sheetrock guy, for example. It helps us get the job done faster so we can move on to the next job.

Q:How’s business?

A: (Old John) Right now it’s pretty slow. The weather has been brutal this winter so that’s really killed any outdoor jobs. But we hope to get some indoor work soon.

(Young John) Last winter, we were booked solid. But January and February can also be slow.

Business will pick up after tax season when people start getting their refund checks. We’re confident the calls will come in.